Natalya Freidina: “I had to make a lot of efforts so that my husband and children accepted my hobby. What advice would you give yourself for tomorrow?

Freidina, Natalya

Nothing foretold that a girl from an ordinary Russian family would become the only world-class race car driver in our country. We will talk about the unusual life path of Natalia Freidina in this article.

Nothing predicted...

Natalya Freidina, future race car driver, was born on August 21, 1978 in Samara. Natasha grew up as a "daddy's daughter", and her father was a great lover of vehicles and spent non-working days in the car or in the garage. The girl started driving at the age of thirteen and got her license as soon as she was eighteen. Natalya knew the car like the back of her hand, but she could not even imagine that she would be a professional racer.

Love for technology and at the same time for the fine arts led the girl to the idea of ​​​​entering an architectural institute, but her father insisted: either jurisprudence or economics. Therefore, Freidina learned to be an economist (she graduated from the institute with honors) and began to work in her specialty. However, the work also turned out to be related to cars: it was the Mostransavto company. Soon Natalia married a successful businessman, gave birth to two children and flew to Switzerland.

What you've read so far doesn't sound like the beginning of an athlete biography, does it?

Natalya Freidina - race car driver

However, Natalya did not like the life of a housewife. It was quite difficult to get a job in Europe by profession. There were no problems with luxury cars in the family, and the young woman decided to try herself in car racing: first at an amateur level.

The husband of Natalia Freidina initially approved this decision. However, at the moment when Natalya wanted to act as a professional, disagreements began in the family ... However, the autolady emerged victorious in this small war. The husband reconciled and now always supports his wife.

In 2010, the dream came true: sports biography Natalia Freidina. She became a Formula BMW Europe driver. The very next year, the girl moved to Formula BMW Pacific (later these races were called the Formula JK Racing Asia Series). Natalia joined the strongest team, Meritus GP, and quickly got into the top five of the most promising newcomers. Since then, Freidina has competed under the name Natalie. The flag of Russia is depicted on her car.

At the moment, Russian racer Natalya Freidina is a pilot of the TEAM RUSSIA FIA GT European Championship team. This is the only woman from Russia speaking at a serious level of auto racing. By the way, in 2016, Freidina supported the initiative to create a women's version of Formula 1. True, it is not yet entirely clear whether things will go beyond talk: large investments will be needed ...

Motorsport is not only a competition, but also a business, because the driver has to work with sponsors. Sponsors are usually attracted by special managers. And here Freidina had problems. The only Russian racer, of course, is looking for her sponsors in Russia, but she lives in Switzerland. Swiss agents did not know Russian business well and could not work effectively in our country.

Natalia was rescued by economic education. Now Freidina is her own manager!

After the competition...

After a serious race, Freidina loses weight by two or three kilograms. So Natalia is slim and always in shape. But before, when a woman was not involved in motorsport, she had problems. After the birth of the child, Freidina had to lose 27 kilograms.

Motorsport is a sport like any other: to compete and win, you need to have iron health. You have to experience significant overloads and participate in runs in a tropical climate (the temperature in the cabin is up to +60 degrees).

Freidina trains six times a week, does aerobics at least three times a week. She usually alternates aerobic exercises with strength exercises.

This is not only a strong, but also a very beautiful girl. Natalya Freidina is already 38 years old, and her face retains youth and freshness.

She knows how to combine the hard-to-combine - a racing career and family life. In Switzerland, auto racing is prohibited, so for Freidina, any competition is a trip abroad. Natalya is always on the road, but still tries not to leave home for more than 10 days. All the time spent in Geneva is dedicated to family and children. The racing driver has two charming daughters. The eldest daughter is fond of singing and music, and the youngest, perhaps, will follow in the footsteps of her mother: she is also interested in car competitions.

Natalya Freidina hopes that when the little racer grows up, women will already take part in Formula 1.

The pilot of the European Grand Turismo racing championships, the only representative of Russia in the Formula BMW championship is an incredibly charming woman. At first glance, you can’t tell that this fragile blonde, mother of two children, wife is also making a successful career at maximum speeds (speed here, by the way, is not a figure of speech - acceleration to 270 km / h, one might say, is her professional handwriting) .

Natalya has been in serious motorsport since 2010. Formula BMW participates under the name Natalie, with the Russian flag on the car.

I'm closer and more understandable manual transmission

Elina Braginskaya: Natalia, welcome. Thank you for participating in the Success Signature Program. Let's talk about pleasant female oddities: auto racing, speeds and controlled female extreme sports. It was not easy for me to find you, now I understand why. Are you leading a new direction?

Natalia Freidina: Yes, now one of the areas of my work will be expanded. It will help me in the development of motorsport, in part - women's motorsport. I currently chair the Women in Motorsport Committee of the Russian Automobile Federation for the development of motorsport and represent Russian Federation at the FIA.

I am very glad that I was able to include this meeting in your busy schedule. First I would like to know how the desire to go in for motorsport arose. Where did your story start?

Drive has always attracted me. Movement and adrenaline are the necessary conditions for my being. At first it was a hobby, and after 20 years, the hobby turned into a profession.

What do you think contributed to your success?

Apparently self-confidence. In youth, we rely on the support of our closest friends and relatives. In my case, it was not, because it was believed that car racing is not a woman's occupation. After 20 years, I finally “saw the light”, I realized that I need to decide my own fate, go (go) my own way and do what I love 24 hours a day.

You have serious experience behind you: extreme, counter-emergency driving courses. You graduated from the school of Alexander Grachev (at the Association of Auto and Motorcycle Professionals), as well as the school of Professor Ernest Tsygankov. Tell us what you have learned from this training?

I realized that the car is not a faceless vehicle, but a “separate organism”. You need to understand the car, accept it, learn to feel one with it. IN Lately the automotive industry surprises with many electronic innovations that free you from all sorts of worries. A person drives a car, he is responsible for the safety of the car and for his own safety, so I reject excessive “bells and whistles”, I choose a “four-wheeled friend” with a manual gearbox, with a comfortable seat, with a three-point seat belt. Only then do I become one with the car and enjoy fast driving.

Have you ever had to use the “auto chips” learned at the races while driving on city roads?

Yes, sure. I learned to anticipate the situation, developed the ability to act proactively in complex road “alterations”, instantly react to careless pedestrians in unlit places on the road (I’d rather knock on a wooden tabletop). Another need: I always wear leather gloves while driving. This is not a tribute to fashion, but an objective necessity, since in extreme situations the palms are instantly moistened, glide along the steering wheel, which should not be allowed. I don’t understand, and even more so I don’t approve of those who “control” with one hand or several fingers, sit in an armchair lounging, as if on a sofa. It should not be! After all, at this moment you are not only focused on intoxicating speed, but also responsible for other people's lives.

There are four cars in my fleet, only the Pagani supercar is missing

Many women are afraid to drive. What advice would you give them to overcome their fear?

Mostly women, especially those who have ever been in an accident, are afraid of threats, dangers to life. You can fight this fear. Today, there are many sites where you can conduct driving training: avoid obstacles - soft cones, learn to change lanes to neighboring lanes and taxi, work out emergency situations in tandem with a professional pilot. A question of desire and practice. Any fear needs to be worked out and eliminated. Many times I had to “pull out” friends and acquaintances from the post-accident syndrome with such practical training. Now it is an endless train of grateful people who are ready to share their knowledge and experience.

What speed record did you set and where?

It was in Italy: the Monza track on a Ferrari - acceleration of about 270 km / h.

Do you usually drive fast in the city? How often do you have to pay fines?

Quite often, although I hold on and try not to break the speed limit. Security must be secure. That is why I like to drive a car to Europe, where there are no speed limits on the highways. Other things being equal, I prefer a car to an airplane.

Do you use additional vehicle equipment, such as a navigator?

Do not use. I choose the road on the map. The best road is the straight road you know (laughs). I prefer car tuning only for safety, "body kit" beauty is not for me.

By what criteria do you choose your car? What car are you dreaming about now?

If possible, I will choose a manual gearbox, the minimum number of options, automatics (I trust my experience and intuition more than ABS). There are four cars in my fleet, the only thing missing is the Pagani supercar - in 3 seconds it accelerates on average to a speed of 100 km / h, the maximum speed is 350 km / h.

I would like to know about mentors. Tell us a little about them.

In a period of mature career growth, fate brought me to one of the most titled Russian pilots, Alexei Vasiliev. He not only brilliantly manages, but also knows how to methodically explain any traffic situation, to help develop current driving skills. I consider meeting him a great personal success.

You have been inspired and perfected in craftsmanship. Do you have followers? Do you want to train a women's team?

Yes, I really want to pass on my knowledge to the girls, to grow followers. I am inspired by inquisitive bright personalities. I consider teaching others as an incentive for myself. When I see the energetic, lively look of a girl who is not indifferent to speed, I remember myself at her age and I want to help to reach the goal as quickly as possible, to overcome the fears and insecurities that prevent victory in the first place.

I should learn to wait

Natalya, what are you inspired by, what are you emotionally fueled by?

People like my work, I see an interest in motorsport and draw energy from this. Those who show interest find me. For example, you wanted to know about me and about female extreme sports. As a way to switch and relax, I use night driving on Moscow roads: silence, freedom, speed .... What else do you need to think, meditate and relax?

What advice would you give yourself for tomorrow?

Learn to wait. Patience, endurance - often we do not have enough of this. You can take on work and achieve heights when you know how to calmly wait and fulfill obligations in a disciplined manner. It is also important to learn how to switch between tasks (for their own benefit), to bring what they started to the end and smoothly move from duties to rest.

I'm curious to hear the formula: How do you motivate yourself to reach your goal?
First, faith in yourself. Secondly, harmony with the surrounding world and people. Lack of self-confidence takes away most of the vital energy. My husband and children were a serious hindrance to my sports passion. I had to make a lot of effort and use female qualities so that the family accepted my “hobby”. Trust and reasoning helped. My husband and I came to an agreement for a long time. It was necessary to explain why it is important for me to be in motorsport and what my participation will bring to the family. When I managed to achieve faith, harmony and support of loved ones, I felt invincible. I think that every woman should have hobbies besides work and family, in this we should not differ from men.

Natalia, thank you very much. I wish you purposeful followers and students. See you in April at the races!

Thanks Elina. I will be glad if you join our team, especially since we have the next races soon. It's time to get behind the wheel of a racing car on the track.

Thanks, Natalia. With pleasure! I went through the school of extreme driving more than once. Our interview is a good sign. It's time to start.

Natalia Freidina: dossier

• 1. The only woman in the prestigious European GT class championship (FIA GT3 and Blancpain GT Series).
• 2. Started her career in motorsport racing in the Formula-3 series.
• 3. Since 2016, she has been appointed a national representative from Russia in the FIA ​​Commission "Women in Motorsport" (International Automobile Federation, Commission "Women in Motorsport").
• 4. The only Russian woman who took part in the races of the formula series. Russian racing driver, pilot of the TEAM RUSSIA FIA GT European Championship team.
• 5. Actively promotes motorsport and supports young talents. Mother of two daughters. Website: www.natalierace.ru

You can meet other prominent people who have become guests of Elina Braginskaya on the official channel of the author: “Handwriting of Success”

Natalya Freidina is a pilot of the Formula JK Racing Asia Series (formerly known as Formula BMW Pacific), one of the most respected and well-known racing series in the region. She has been a member of the MERITUS GP team since 2010, the only representative of Russia in the Formula JK Racing Asia Series championship. The Meritus GP team will have 6 pilots in the 2011 season. Married, two children. Lives in Switzerland.

Since childhood, she showed interest in auto racing in general and in the latest auto / motorcycle sports. She graduated from the Tsygankov driving school, took an individual extreme driving course at Alexander Grachev's school (AvtoMotoPro). Then I got the idea to try my hand at professional motorsport, I started karting. In 2010, the age of the youngest daughter allowed her to continue motorsports more professionally. Natalia Freidina became a Formula BMW driver, but 2010 was the last year for Formula BMW Europe, in connection with this, it was decided to move to the Pacific series - Formula BMW Pacific. The choice fell on the MERITUS GP team, as it is the leader in the region.

Having shown excellent results in the first tests, she entered the top five most promising novice pilots of her team. Participates in Formula JK Racing Asia Series under the name Natalie, with the image of the Russian flag on the car.

At the first stage of the 2011 season at Sepang in Malaysia, she participated in the Formula 1 support race.

Natalia Freidina is announced as a racer in Malaysia (April) and Singapore (September).